Make It Work-a creative contest

You’ve heard the saying, “She could make a paper bag look good”?  Well, I was thinking about that one day while browsing my local thrift store’s collection of patterns.  So many frumpy, ugly, just plain odd designs in that mix, I wondered how hard it would be to make those look good, to make those patterns *work*?  So I grabbed some of the choicest patterns out of the stack, emailed some other sewing-bloggers, rounded up some amazing sponsors and incredible judges, and after a month of prepping, sewing and begging, I’m super, crazy excited to announce…

All right, so here’s the deal:  all this month the focus is going to be on how to make both patterns and ready-to-wear clothing *you*. 
I mailed out some of those, ahem, awesome patterns I found at the thrift store to other sewing bloggers with a challenge to Make It Work.  They’ve come up with some really amazing things to share with us.  I’ve also asked a few other favorite sewing bloggers to talk about how they transform existing clothing into unique and fashion-forward designs.  There will be posts on how to combine patterns to get a desired look, and what to look for when choosing thrifted patterns.  Or at least what I look for. There even are a few super sweet giveaways planned.   But best of all?  VERY BEST?  I’m issuing you all the challenge, too! 


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I want to see how you Make It Work by having you find a frumpy, out of style, crazy pattern and transforming it into something worthy of top wardrobe billing. I want to see you take an item of clothing not worth the time of day and make it into something we all want in our closets.  Two categories: one for Pattern Redesign and one for Transformed Clothing.  And there are prizes, really incredible prizes involved.  I’ll tell you more about them in a couple of days.  But for now you can look over to the right at the sponsors and get a feel of what’s in it for you!
Okay, so…
The Rules: 
-All entries need to be uploaded to this Flickr group.

-Entries can be anything you’ve made ever, BUT you have to have a before and after picture.  A description, and nothing else, of the Before won’t work.  For the Transformed Clothing category, this means a picture of the original article of clothing.  For the Pattern Redesign, we want the actual pattern envelope picture.  You can link to an online stock image of the pattern or clothing used, but it has to be the exact item, not a “kinda sorta like this”. 

-Entries will be accepted from right now through Midnight MST Monday, May 23rd.  No exceptions.  I’m locking the Flickr down at 12:01 Tuesday morning and going to bed.

-You can enter up to two entries in each category.  Please state in the image description in which category you’re entering your design: Pattern Redesign or Transformed Clothing.
-Only one After picture for each entry allowed in the Flickr group.  HOWEVER, you have to link to either a blog post or online photo album that shows the Before and any other pictures and/or details you’d like.   If there is no Before to be easily found, the entry will not be judged.
-Please, no collages in the Flickr group.

-The After can be clothing for a you, a child, whatever.  Be creative.  BUT we want to be able to see the Before somehow reflected in the finished product.  The judges will be looking for not just what the final product looks like, but what you had to work with. This is a very “before and after” contest, but we need to be able to see at least a little of the Before in the After.  Depending on what you carried over from the original, you may want to point it out so the judges don’t miss it.  Just a little tip.

And I think that’s it!  You ready to play?  Feel free to take a button to share the challenge.  I’m super excited to see what you all come up with, and to share with you what some of your favorite bloggers have designed, too!   Stay tuned the rest of the week for more information about who’s guesting, who’s judging, what’s being given away, and what’s in store for the winners. 

 
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Now go Make It Work!

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Remember to enter to win
a Mother’s Day bouquet from Rosehips and Tulips HERE 
a Libman Mop and $100 Visa gift card HERE
a coupon for a free Freschetta pizza and cutting board HERE